Strategic Issue Discussion

Cybersecurity. Counterfeiting. The Circular Economy. Do you have a plan to respond to these daunting issues that are already on the radar screens of AHAM members? We’ve brought together expert speakers for presentations and discussion on the latest developments and thoughts on how companies can respond and thrive amidst each of these challenges.

Sunday, April 30

2:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.: Cyber Security

Ron Ross is a Fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. His focus areas include information security, systems security engineering, and risk management. Dr. Ross leads the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) Implementation Project, which includes the development of security standards and guidelines for the federal government, contractors, and the United States critical infrastructure. Dr. Ross also leads the Joint Task Force, an interagency partnership with the Department of Defense, Office of the Director National Intelligence, U.S. Intelligence Community, and the Committee on National Security Systems, with responsibility for the development of the Unified Information Security Framework for the federal government and its contractors.

Dr. Ross previously served as the director of the National Information Assurance Partnership, a joint activity of NIST and the National Security Agency. He supports the U.S. State Department in the international outreach program for information security and critical infrastructure protection. He has also lectured at many universities and colleges across the country. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Dr. Ross served in many leadership and technical positions during his twenty-year career in the United States Army. A member of the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame, he has received numerous public and private-sector awards, including the Scientific Achievement Award, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Partnership for Public Service Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for Homeland Security and Law Enforcement. He has also received the Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medal Awards and has been inducted into the Information Systems Security Association Hall of Fame.

During his military career, Dr. Ross served as a White House aide and a senior technical advisor to the Department of the Army. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and holds masters and Ph.D degrees in computer science from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics.

2:45 p.m.–3:30 p.m.: Counterfeiting

Speaker:
Bruce M. Foucart
President of Foucart & Associates, Inc.

Bruce M. Foucart

Bruce M. Foucart is the founder and president of Foucart & Associates, Inc. and is an intellectual property rights enforcement professional with more than 30 years of U.S. federal law enforcement experience. Since transitioning to industry, he has worked as an anti-counterfeiting and IP protection and enforcement consultant, working for several companies and coalitions, including the International Trademark Association. He is also a law enforcement fellow at Michigan State University’s Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection.
Mr. Foucart is former director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which operates as a task force of 23 federal and international law enforcement and regulatory partner agencies who together stand at the forefront of the U.S. government response to global intellectual property theft.

Prior to joining the IPR Center, Mr. Foucart was the special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Homeland Security Boston office. From June 2006 to July 2014, his area of responsibility included the oversight of ICE criminal investigations within all of the New England States, including the United States Districts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Connecticut. He was responsible for leading approximately 250 employees, including 190 special agents.
Mr. Foucart is former unit chief of the Undercover Operations Unit at ICE Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He served as a senior special agent in the legacy U.S. Customs Service, Office of Internal Affairs in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a former deputy U.S. marshal between 1985 and 1990 and served in Providence, RI and Boston, MA. Mr. Foucart is a graduate of Boston University where he earned bachelor of arts and master of criminal justice administration degrees.

3:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m.: Networking Break

As VP for Government Affairs and Solutions, Pouland's current responsibilities include developing and executing strategies to maximize Philips’ relationships with all public sector policymakers, regulators and customers. In addition to managing public policy issues for the company, John works closely with Philips’ Lighting to enhance the company’s government business opportunities.

Pouland brings a wealth of public sector experience to Philips, including his past tenure at Siemens, where he served as Vice President, US Public Sector, managing Federal, City and Airport accounts across the US.

Prior to Siemens, Pouland was Regional Administrator - Southwest Region, U.S. General Services Administration where he managed a Federal workforce of over 1800 employees in five states, with jurisdiction of over 25 million square feet of office space, including Federal Courthouses, Border Stations, Federal office buildings and warehouses. John also held the role of Executive Director for the Texas General Services Commission with a workforce of 800 State employees that performed similar functions to that of his GSA role.